SECRETARY-GENERAL DECIDES TO SET MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR UN PEACEKEEPERS

Press Release
SG/SM/6777
PKO/79

SECRETARY-GENERAL DECIDES TO SET MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR UN PEACEKEEPERS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has decided to set minimum age requirements for United Nations peacekeepers who are made available to the Organization by Member States. As announced in the Fourth Committee this morning by Bernard Miyet, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, contributing governments are asked not to send civilian police and military observers younger than 25 years to serve in peacekeeping operations; troops in national contingents should preferably be 21 years, but not less than 18. This decision has been taken as an additional measure in the Organization's efforts to promote the rights of the child. While we have no indication that Member Governments have provided the United Nations with soldiers under the age of 18, this policy has been adopted as a proactive measure, and to ensure that the Organization's use of uniformed personnel is an example for police and military forces worldwide.

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